There aren't many people who choose to run for fun, but for North Marion freshman cross country runner Brooklyn Smith, running has become a way of life. A sport he never expected to pursue, Smith's dedication and willingness to work has earned him the title of UF Health Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine High School Athlete of the Week.
"Running is a challenge, it's painful, it hurts," Smith said. "But the feeling you get when you finish a race is so rewarding. You feel like you've accomplished something, and I couldn't ask for a better feeling."
Smith, who never thought he would compete in cross country, began running as a kid growing up in Clearwater. After a quick stop in NY, Smiths family settled in Ocala and he started his high school career at North Marion back in August. He was convinced to try out for the cross country team and he quickly found himself pushing beyond his limits. Through hours of training—sometimes alone, sometimes with teammates—Smith set a new school record for the fastest freshman 5K time, completing the race in 19 minutes, 1 second.
"I got to meet the guy that I beat, and it was such a cool moment. I felt so accomplished. Never knew I'd go this far," Smith said. "It was really cool to celebrate that with my teammates and coaches. We've pushed each other to become better throughout the year."
Smith credits his improvement to the hard work and dedication in practice. "Working out harder than the actual race made race day easier," he said. His commitment to training has paid off, making him this week's UF Health Athlete of the Week.
Each weekly winner is eligible to win a $2,500 scholarship at the end of the season, with the UF Health High School Athlete of the Year to be named at the conclusion of the 2024-25 academic year.